Unholy Strength: A Powerful Enchantment Card Review

Unholy Strength is an enchantment card that has been a staple in many Magic: The Gathering decks for years. In this review, we will delve into its mechanics, strategic uses, and deckbuilding roles to understand why it remains a powerful addition to any deck.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Overview

Unholy Strength is an Enchantment - Aura card, meaning it requires a creature to enchant it in order to activate its ability. When enchanted, the creature gains +2/+1, making it significantly more powerful on the battlefield. This effect can be stacked with other +2/+1 effects, allowing for even greater power increases.

Key Interactions

One key interaction worth noting is that Unholy Strength does not interact with creatures' abilities or other enchantments in any way, as long as they don't have a specific reason to override its ability (such as having a "counter enchantment" ability). However, it's still possible for an enchanted creature to be destroyed by a spell or effect that destroys enchantments, as Unholy Strength is still just an enchantment itself.

Technical Notes

It's worth noting that the power and toughness of a creature with Unholy Strength can become complex if multiple +2/+1 effects are applied. However, this interaction does not apply to creatures on their controller's side of the field.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Aggressive Decks

Unholy Strength is often used in aggressive decks to turn weaker creatures into formidable attackers. For example, a deck featuring Golgari Findbroker can use Unholy Strength to make its 1/1 creature into a 3/1 attacker that can take down small opponents quickly.

Zombie and Undead Creatures

Unholy Strength also has synergy with certain types of creatures, such as zombies or other undead, which benefit from increased power and toughness. Another strategy involves using Unholy Strength on a creature like Griselbrand, making it nearly unkillable despite having only +1/+1 from the enchantment.

Spell Interactions

Combinations with spells that can make creatures "attack" more frequently (like Soul Warden or Maelstrom Pulse) also increase its power and potential to win quickly. However, Unholy Strength's interactions with combos like those of Mono-Red Burn decks are complex due to its inherent nature as an enchantment which doesn't have an effect on how often it's used.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Enchantment Ramp

Unholy Strength fits well into various deck archetypes that prioritize creature development. Some common roles for Unholy Strength in decklists include:

• Enchantment ramp (used to accelerate the enchanting process)
• Card advantage generators like Golgari Findbroker create the need for additional creatures.

Synergistic Decks

Its effectiveness can vary depending on how well it is integrated into a deck. Some decks take advantage of its ability by creating powerful synergies with other cards, such as having multiple creatures enchanted with Unholy Strength to overwhelm opponents.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Modern and Limited Events

In competitive formats like Modern or Limited events, Unholy Strength's viability can vary depending on how well it is integrated into a deck. As with many enchantments, its value lies in whether an opponent has to destroy you before your creatures become too powerful.

In these environments, having the necessary setup (creatures that can be enchanted) is crucial.

Commander and Casual Draft Events

It does relatively poorly in formats where speed and agility are more important than raw power like Commander or casual draft events. It's generally considered a solid addition to any deck with available mana for enchanting effects.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

Clean Mechanic

Since Unholy Strength only affects enchanted creatures, it is a clean and straightforward mechanic that has minimal impact on gameplay outside of this context.

However, one thing worth noting is the potential vulnerability of enchanted creatures if they are sent from the battlefield to their owner's hand due to effects like Mimic or Rites of Desecration. These mechanics will bypass Unholy Strength's ability since it does not apply to a creature while on its controller's side of the field.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Hauntingly Beautiful Image

The art of Unholy Strength features a hauntingly beautiful image of a hulking monster with glowing red eyes, embodying the "unholy" theme.

Flavor Text

The flavor text reads, "Some creatures are born not made," which hints at the idea that enchanted creatures possess some sort of twisted natural power.

Unholy Strength was released in 2011 as part of the 'Scars of Mirrodin' set, reflecting the game's evolving focus on strategy and more complex gameplay. Over time, its mechanics have seen various changes, including updates to how enchantments are resolved in relation to combat damage rules.

Summary of Key Points

Unholy Strength is an Enchantment - Aura card that provides a significant boost to enchanted creatures by increasing their power and toughness. Its interactions with other cards can be complex due to the specifics of its aura and how it stacks on certain enchantments, as well as the potential impact from certain effects like sending creatures to their owner's hand.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Unholy Strength is a versatile and powerful enchantment that finds its use in aggressive decks aiming to create an overwhelming advantage through sheer force. With its ability to turn mediocre creatures into formidable attackers or defenders, it remains a staple of many modern Magic: The Gathering decks.